Chapter 0024
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Chapter 0024
Aldo
Layla’s laugh still echoed in my mind.
A day later, in the shadowy glow of a high–end restaurant’s private back room, I could still hear that derisive chuckle. A restless night, a morning of phone calls and paperwork, and now this ill- advised meeting, and I was still back in my office, her glaring white smile filling my vision.
I reclined onto the soft leather of the back room’s main sofa. The glass of whiskey in my hand glowed orange in the mood lighting. My mind wandered, but my mask was in place; the mirror on the wall in the corner of the room told me I looked the picture- perfect image of the cold, hard Mafia king.
My men stood behind me, clad in neatly ironed tuxes, their arms folded behind their backs like they weren’t ready to draw and shoot in an instant. More
accessories to my act.
In the couch across from me sat the head of the Moretti family.
All the pieces were in place.
And I could still the woman I loved laughing at me.
“You know why I’m here, Marcello,” Moretti said,
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Chapter 0024
but it didn’t draw me back from her memory. She’d never spoken to me like that–so recklessly. So angrily. Like she hated me.
It wasn’t like her. But damn it, I’d still reacted. I still wanted her. More than I’d ever wanted anything or anyone. More than I’d been able to bring myself to want any female since her.
Eight years later, and she was still the woman that owned my heart. My love. All my affection.
Did she have any idea?
“I know why we’re here,” I said, addressing Moretti at least. I kept my voice tight, professional. It was time to forget her–if only for a moment–and focus on the business at hand.
With any luck, it might help me find a way to return her to her life.
So I fixed my attention to the older gentleman in front of me. He didn’t look like a murdering drug lord, but I supposed, neither did I.
Appearances could be deceiving. How well I knew. I’d lived it for eight long years, hadn’t I? Hiding the man I truly was behind the mask.
“I should not have attacked your second.” Moretti’s eyes lifted briefly from my face to the man standing over my left shoulder.
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Chapter 0024
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I didn’t have to turn to know that Carlo didn’t so much as twitch as Moretti aimed his apology. His mask was almost as impressive as my own. Carlo knew how to act the part, how to hide his true self behind a deception.
“No,” I agreed, not taking my eyes from my enemy. “You shouldn’t have.”
“But.” Moretti’s gaze dropped back to mine. “You killed my advisor. So we’re even now. Continuing this feud won’t benefit either of our families.”
No, it wouldn’t. But that didn’t mean I’d agree to put aside his transgressions, either. He’d left a few of them out of the discussion–important ones- and I wasn’t about to let him forget it.
I rocked the glass in my hand, sending the ice tinkling against the sides. “Are we even? You attacked a hospital. Then targeted an innocent doctor–outside of the family. A civilian.”
His brows pulled low, but I pressed on before he could continue.
“That goes against the rules of engagement I’ve established for the Mafia. That’s why I took down your advisor. No man who advises such action should be allowed a position of power.”
A muscle in Moretti’s jaw flexed, feathering the skin beneath his salt–and–pepper beard. But could
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Chapter 0024
he argue? I’d established rules to protect the peace and order of the city—which in turn protected the integrity of both our families.
He smoothed his expression with visible effort. “ How about a deal?”
“What kind of deal?” My muscles tensed with instant readiness; a deal with a man like Moretti was not something to take lightly. “I want to hear all the details before I agree to anything.”
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